Improvement in machines for cutting lozenges



UNITED Srn'rns-1fn'rn1vfr @Erica WILLIAM EDWARD DAMANT, OF WESTHOBOKE-N, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WM. HESSIN, OF TORONTO,CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING LOZENGES, &c.

Specification fowning part of Letters `Patent No. 113,635, dated April1], 18171.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD DA- MANT,of West Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and Improved Machine for Guttin g Lozenges; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to makeand use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a sideelevation of my improved machine for cutting lozenges.- Fig. 2 is averticaltransverse section of the same,

l taken on the plane of the line man, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on theplane of the line i/ y, Fig. 4, and showing also an attachment forrolling the paste. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new machine for cutting the iiat pieces ofconfectionery known in the trade as lozenges,7 and which are usu allycircular, but often also of other form.

The main object of the invention is to so construct the machine that itwill operate by continuous action on endless or uninterrupted sheets ofpaste and cut the lozenges therefrom with exactness and rapidity.

The invention consists mainly in the use of a-hinged feed-table, whichcarries an endless feed-apron, and a perforated platform embracing thestat'onary annular cutters. The platform is luslh with the cutters whenthe machine is at rest or not cutting, but moved down to carry the pasteagainst the cuttingedges during the desired operation. i

The invention consists, also, in the connec- Ation with saidtable-platform and Xedcntters of a verticallylreciprocatin g frame,which carries an apron against the cutting-edges to insure the entirepiercing of the paste. Between this frame and the movable platform areinterposed elastic blocks or pieces, which swing down the said platformduring the descent of the frames.

I The invention also consists in the new arrangement of mechanism forimparting the required motion to the several aprons of the feed-table,reciprocating frame, and lozenge and waste conveyers, as hereinaftermore fully described.

A in the drawing represents the frame of my improved lozengc-cuttingmachine. It is made of metal or wood, or both, of suitable shape andsize to be best adapted to-the several devices and mechanisms attachedto it. In about the middle ofthe frame A, below the top of the same, ishung the transverse driving-shaft B, which receivesrotary motion bysuitable means. The two ends of the frame A carry transverse drums C C,which are about on a level with each other, and serve to hold an endlessapron, D, as shown. Gontin uous or intermittent rotation is imparted toone of the drums Ufor moving the apron I) in the desired manner. Onedrum C is hung in bearings, which are longitudinally adjustable topermit proper tension to be applied to the apron. Above one drum C ishung, in projecting ears a a of the frame A, a transverse roller, E. Theears c are, in front of the roller E, connected by a cross-piece, b, towhich is hinged, at c, a table, F, extendii'igabont to the middle of the-frame A. Springs d df, on the under side of the table F, serve to holdthe same in a horizontal position, but do not prevent it from beingswung down when press ure is applied from above. table F carries atransverse roller, c. An endless apron, G, is placed around the rollersE c and passes around the table F, as shown, its upper part being aboutat on said table. When the table is moved on its hingeszthe :apron willbe carried up or down with it without having its rotary motioninterfered with. E carries at one end a ratchet-wheel, f, and a loosearm, g, which has a spring-pawl, li, for the ratchet-wheel, and is, by apitman, c', conneeted with a crank-pin, j, on the shaft B. By thisconnection intermittent rotary motion will be imparted to the roller .Eand. apron Gr.

This Vmotion can be regulated by having the Y crank-pin j adjustable onthe shaft, and the pitman adjustable on the arm g, so that the strokesof the arm may be lengthened or shortened at will. The other end of theframe A carries above the other drum C a roller, E2,

rlhe free end of the The roller j that described for the roller E. Tothe crosspiece b2 is hinged, at c2, a table, F2, extending to within ashort distance from the end of the table F, and held up by springs d2. Aroller, e2, is hung in the free end of the table F2 to receive an apron,G2, that hangs on E2 and e2. The two tables F and F2 are, in theirpositions of rest, nearly on a level with one another. The roller E2carries a ratchet-wheel, f2, and loose arm, g2, which has a 'pawl, h2,and is, by a pitman, i2,- connected with the crank-pin j. The motion ofthe aprons G G2 will thus be obtained by a similar means, and should bealike in degree. able in their bearings to provide for a proper tensionof their respective aprons. To the free end of the table F is secured,by means of arms, so as to be clear of apron G, a perforated platform,H, whichl reaches nearly to the table F2, lling the gap between F andF2, as shown. I I are the annular cutters. They are in a straight orcurved row or rows, aflixed to a plate, 7c, which is, with its ends,tted between dovetailed or grooved supports l l, that project fromtheframe A. The plate la can be withdrawn from between the supports lwhen it is desired to sharpen the cutters. The cutters are placedvertically, so that they project through the apertures of the platformH, the said apertures being of such size and form as to nicely fit theouter sides of the cutters. The upper sharpened edges of the cutters arelush with the surface of the platform Has long as the table F is heldhorizontal by the springs el but, as the cutters are stationary, theywill project through the platform whenever the same is moved down withits table. At the sides of the frame A, about in line with thecutter-holder k, are arranged vertical posts m m, which are slotted toconstitute guides for a vertically-reciprocating frame, J. This frameis, by rods a a, connected with eccentrics o on the shaft B, to receivethe desired up-and-down motion from the same. The upper end of the frameJ carries the d rum L, and its lower end a pair of rollers, p. Anendless apron, M, passes over the drum L and rollers p, its lower partbeing above the cutters, as shown. The drum L carries a ratchetwheel, q,and loose arm r, which has a springpawl, s, for said ratchet-wheel. Thearm r is pivoted to a standard, t. The vertical movement of the frame Jcauses the pawl to turn the apron M at every other stroke. u a arerubber blocks or pieces interposed between the frame J and platform H.

The operation is as follows: The paste to be cut is, from the rollingapparatus, depositel upon the apron G, and fed 'by the same The rollersE E2 are adjustto the platform H.- When the paste covers the platformand cutters the frame J moves down and forces, by means of the blocks uu, the platform down over the cutters. The apron M holds the paste onthe platform and causes it to be pierced by the cutters, so that piecesof the desired shape will be within the latter. Vhen the apron M reachesthe cutters the paste must have been completely cut through. The frame Jis then elevated, the table F following, until the platform is againflush with or rather slightly above the cutters. The plate is then movedahead, the waste arrivin g on the apron G2, while a new portion isplaced over the cutters by the action of the feed. The lozenges cut outfall through the cutters upon the apron D, and are by the same conveyedto a suitable receptacle. The rotation of the apron M is provided toprevent the same from being cut by frequent contact in the same placewith the knives.

The cutters are annular, as stated, for circular lozenges, but may be ofother form if desired, having, however, in every case, continuouscutting-edges.

It will be noticed that the swinging of the table F is of great valueand importance, as it provides for the cutting of the paste withoutrequirin g the cutters to move. This gives a cleaner cut and smootheredge of lozcnge than the moving of the cutters toward the paste, andrequires less power besides. The hinging of the table F2 is, however,not so necessary, and may be dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The hinged feed-table carrying the apron l G andplatform H, to operate in conjunction withk the stationary cutters,substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The reciprocating frame J, combined with the stationary cutters andswinging perforated platform H, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. The elastic blocks u u, interposed between the reciprocating frame Jand swinging platform H, substantial] y as herein shown and described.

4. The cutters I I, affixed to a sliding plate, K, and applied below thereciprocating frame J, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination of the roller E with the wheel f, arm g, pawl h,pitman i, and crankpin j, all arranged to operate substantially asherein shown and described.

WILLIAM EDWARD DAMANT.

Witnesses GEO. W.' MABEE, T. B. MosHER.

